8 Black & White Wardrobe Staples That Go With Everything

Putting an outfit together is difficult if you’ve opened up your wardrobe to a sea of color. And whilst color is great, it can be limiting if you don’t have the essentials to match them up with.

Whether you’re forming the building blocks of a capsule wardrobe, or getting your essentials laid out as a foundation for your maximalist style, black and white is a great place to start. We’re going to go through some monochromatic staples that look good on almost every body shape, skin color, and age, to show you some truly versatile underdogs that should be on your radar (and in your closet), if they aren’t already.

Without further ado, here are 8 black and white wardrobe staples that go with everything.

1. White Sneakers

First on our list – everyday white sneakers are an absolute must. They truly do go with absolutely everything, providing a touch of clean, chic, style that is both casual and refined. A woman who walks into a building with white sneakers is a woman who is not afraid of the day.

Showcase your girlboss side with a blazer, straight-leg trousers and white sneakers for job interviews and office days, head to the trendy suburbs with your mini, midi, or maxi-skirt and trainers for some serious brunching, or take a weekend hike in your sportswear with athletic sneakers to carry you around the bush. White sneakers should be the first on your monochromatic checklist.

2. Black Hat

Some days, hair needs to be washed, and we can’t be bothered to wash it. Some days, we need to leave the house, and we don’t want to be seen. And some days, it’s too much effort to put a whole look together, but we still want to look like we’ve made some effort. A black hat can fix all of these problems for you. Functional, stylish and practical, a black hat can both accentuate and conceal. Pick a cap, a beanie, a fedora, a bucket hat or whatever speaks to you. 

Depending on how you style it, a black hat can dress up an outfit or play down your appearance. A more structured hat is a great way to elevate a dress or suit for a wedding or formal event, whereas something tight and sculpted will help you blend into the shadows on the days you’re not ready to face the world. The good news is a black hat goes with most styles, so buy a couple of different shapes and get experimenting.

3. White Socks

White socks were probably not what you were expecting to read on this list. Socks never have, and probably never will be (although power be to those who wish to take on the challenge) the main fashion event. But like the best friend at a party of cool strangers you’re trying to impress, they’ll be there making sure you’re looking good from head to toe. A pop of white will break up your trousers from your loafers, or keep those sneakers looking clean. A white sock with a Mary Jane makes our little fashion hearts sing.

The trick with white socks? Keep them white! Not cream, not grey, not brown. There’s something to be said for clinging onto your favorite pair of jeans or worn-down Docs, but not your socks. Past their best? Replace them. (But don’t give your bestie the same treatment). Keep it frilly, keep it simple… but keep it white.

4. Black Dress

Let’s face the facts: little black dresses just aren’t for everyone – not all us ladies feel comfortable showing so much of our legs or our chest, or wearing something that is so fitted, and designed with a younger wearer in mind. 

Still, that doesn’t mean we can’t get behind a black dress at all. A versatile, simple black dress is the modern day version of Cinderella’s rags to ballgown transformation, for when you need an instant glow-up and can’t find your fairy godmother. Make it jazzy for date night with heels and chunky jewelry, goth it up with dark makeup and big shoes, wear it to work with a structured blazer, or style it under a cozy knit sweater with thick tights for autumn and winter looks. A simple black dress will be your wingwoman all year round, flattering and feminine no matter how you wear it.

5. White Collar Shirt

Synonymous with business, formality and power, a crisp, white collar cotton shirt should be a staple of anyone’s wardrobe. That said, you don’t have to save it for formal occasions, nor do you have to find a rigid cut that has you feeling as starched as the fabric. A white shirt simply commands respect, and respect you shall receive when you wear one. Not to mention it goes with nearly every kind of trouser, and looks great tied at the front with a patterned skirt.

To achieve a preppy look, pop the collar out over a second layer, be it a thin cardigan in summer or a thick wool knit in the winter. You can find classic designs in any department store, or more unusual cuts with exaggerated collars, flared sleeves, or interesting details in boutiques, so you can truly find your own style within a timeless design.

6. Black Polo Neck

The mother of all layers, a black polo neck looks as great on its own tucked into a pair of blue jeans with a thick belt as it does under a patterned dress. Pop it under an unbuttoned funky shirt for some added warmth on cold nights out, or use it as your base layer to dress around when compiling a more statement look. 

Black polo necks look especially great on people with taller figures, allowing their neck and longer limbs to be accentuated. But don’t worry, they still look classic on a shorter figure, just tie your hair back and pair it with long earrings to create the same lengthened effect.

7. White Dress

Not the bridal kind… we’re talking here about a very plain, simple white dress. You can throw it on with a pair of sandals in summer, or wear it with a straw hat and statement earrings for a chic vacation look. In transition seasons, throw a trench coat or baggy jumper over the dress, and enjoy an effortlessly boho twist. A white dress is as close to a blank canvas as you can get when it comes to clothes. Depending on the fabric, you may opt to cover the bottom with a different skirt or pair of trousers, offering even more options if you are heading down the capsule wardrobe route, or packing for travel.

If you’re more interested in punky, gothic styles, a white dress does not have to represent innocence and femininity. See it as a point of difference from which to layer up your accessories, leather jacket, combat boots and chunky jewelry. And if you’re prone to spillages, make sure you pick a fabric that’s machine washable!

8. Black Loafers

As we head towards more unisex dressing, black loafers are back, and they strike the perfect balance between feminine elegance and masculine gumption. Black loafers are for the woman who has left her house on a mission, be it to finish an important deadline, or get her groceries. 

Socks or no socks, pants or skirts, loafers are incredibly versatile. They can dress a look up or down, thanks to their neutrality. Heeled loafers will offer a touch of European sophistication, whilst chunky block loafers are a lighter alternative to a more clunky Doc Marten-type shoe. Style an all-black take-no-prisoners look, or ground a more playful, wispy outfit. 

Conclusion

And there we have it, 8 black and white wardrobe staples that go with everything.

The beauty of these pieces is that they can be layered with each other for a knockout monochromatic look, or swapped out as building blocks from which to create more colorful outfits. They’ll be in constant rotation year round, as happy to be the center of attention as they are to blend into the background.

So head to your local department store or vintage shop, or treat yourself to something a little more up-market, as these black and white essentials are worth investing in.